Admiral Sunil Lanba, Chief of Naval Staff today commented on the Search and Rescue operation of Indian Air Force’s missing aircraft AN-32. “As far as missing AN 32 goes there is coordinated efforts going on between indian navy, IAF and coast guard. 17 ships- 13 from navy, and 4 from coast guard deployed. 18 aircraft deployed. Total 250 hours sorties flown. Satellite help is also sought”.

“Whatever leads were there- followed. We are maintaining close coordination for ongoing search and close liaison with families and keeping them with informed”, said Admiral Lanba.

He was speaking soon after Guard of Honour presented to the visiting Chief of Royal Malaysian Navy, Admiral Tan Ahmad Kamarulzaman bin Haji Ahmad Badaruddin. Admiral Tan is on a visit to India from 25-28 July 2016. His visit is intended to consolidate the bilateral naval relations between India and Malaysia and also to explore new avenues for naval cooperation.

He also interacted with the Chairman COSC and Chief of Air Staff and Vice Chief of Army Staff. The Admiral was promoted to the rank of Admiral and assumed Command of the Royal Malaysian Navy on 19 Nov 2015, as the 19th Chief of Royal Malaysian Navy.

Prior to taking over as the Chief of Royal Malaysian Navy, he was the Deputy Chief.

The Indian and the Royal Malaysian Navies cooperate with each other in terms of training, Passage Exercises, as well as interact at various multilateral forums like IONS, MILAN and ADMM Plus.

Warships from both navies visit each other’s ports to build ‘bridges of friendship’. The ships of the Eastern Fleet recently visited Port Kelang as part of its Overseas Deployment to North West Pacific and held a first ever ‘Table Top’ Exercise on Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief with the Royal Malaysian Navy.

Major issues that were discussed during the visit included training exchanges, improving Maritime Domain Awareness by sharing of white shipping information and exploring opportunities for bilateral exercises. The Chief of the Royal Malaysian Navy is scheduled to visit Kochi and Visakhapatnam on completion of his visit to New Delhi, where he will interact with the Commanders-in-Chief besides visiting ships and Naval Dockyard. He is also scheduled to visit the Cochin Shipyard Limited.

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Editor, National Defence

National Defence (Fight For India) is the initiative of independent Indian journalist Shailesh Kumar, a Strategic Alarmist and National Interest Crusader. With 15 years of media experience, Shailesh Kumar has previously worked with leading television brands.